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| Cairo bombing: Cairo Coptic Christian complex hit | Cairo bombing: Cairo Coptic Christian complex hit |
| (1 day later) | |
| A bomb explosion in the Coptic Christian cathedral complex in the Egyptian capital Cairo has killed at least 25 people, officials say. | A bomb explosion in the Coptic Christian cathedral complex in the Egyptian capital Cairo has killed at least 25 people, officials say. |
| Dozens of others were injured in the blast in a chapel adjoining St Mark's cathedral during a Sunday service. | Dozens of others were injured in the blast in a chapel adjoining St Mark's cathedral during a Sunday service. |
| Many of the victims are thought to be women and children. | Many of the victims are thought to be women and children. |
| Egypt's Christian minority has often been targeted by Islamist militants. Christians gathered to show anger at the attack, the worst in years. | Egypt's Christian minority has often been targeted by Islamist militants. Christians gathered to show anger at the attack, the worst in years. |
| Egypt has seen a wave of attacks by militants since 2013 when the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi, an elected leader who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood, and launched a crackdown against Islamists. | Egypt has seen a wave of attacks by militants since 2013 when the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi, an elected leader who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood, and launched a crackdown against Islamists. |
| Some of Mr Morsi's supporters blamed Christians for supporting the overthrow. | Some of Mr Morsi's supporters blamed Christians for supporting the overthrow. |
| The explosion happened at about 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT). Video footage carried by regional media showed the interior of the church littered with broken and scattered furniture, along with blood and clothing on the floor. | The explosion happened at about 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT). Video footage carried by regional media showed the interior of the church littered with broken and scattered furniture, along with blood and clothing on the floor. |
| "I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews. It was a horrible scene," said cathedral worker Attiya Mahrous. | "I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews. It was a horrible scene," said cathedral worker Attiya Mahrous. |
| "There were children. What have they done to deserve this? I wish I had died with them instead of seeing these scenes,'' another witness told the Associated Press news agency. | "There were children. What have they done to deserve this? I wish I had died with them instead of seeing these scenes,'' another witness told the Associated Press news agency. |
| President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has declared a three-day period of national mourning. | President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has declared a three-day period of national mourning. |
| In a statement, he condemned the attack, calling for the perpetrators to be hunted down and punished. | In a statement, he condemned the attack, calling for the perpetrators to be hunted down and punished. |
| "Vicious terrorism is being waged against the country's Copts and Muslims. Egypt will emerge stronger and more united from this situation," he said. | "Vicious terrorism is being waged against the country's Copts and Muslims. Egypt will emerge stronger and more united from this situation," he said. |
| Coptic Christians make up about 10% of Egypt's population. | Coptic Christians make up about 10% of Egypt's population. |
| St Mark's Cathedral is the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox church, and the home of its leader, Pope Tawadros II. | St Mark's Cathedral is the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox church, and the home of its leader, Pope Tawadros II. |
| What is the Coptic Christian faith? | What is the Coptic Christian faith? |
| The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt. While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has about a million members outside the country. | The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt. While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has about a million members outside the country. |
| Copts believe that their Church dates back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. Mark is regarded as the first Pope of Alexandria - the head of their church. | Copts believe that their Church dates back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. Mark is regarded as the first Pope of Alexandria - the head of their church. |
| This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land. | This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land. |
| The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. | The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. |
| The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country. Many believe that continues to this day. | The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country. Many believe that continues to this day. |
| Bishop Angaelos of the UK's Coptic Orthodox Church said his prayers were with Egyptian Copts, "as well as for the broader Egyptian society that fall victim to similar inhumane attacks." | Bishop Angaelos of the UK's Coptic Orthodox Church said his prayers were with Egyptian Copts, "as well as for the broader Egyptian society that fall victim to similar inhumane attacks." |
| On Saturday, six policemen were killed when a bomb exploded on a main road leading to the pyramids at Giza. The explosion, at a police checkpoint, was the deadliest attack on security forces in Cairo in more than six months. | On Saturday, six policemen were killed when a bomb exploded on a main road leading to the pyramids at Giza. The explosion, at a police checkpoint, was the deadliest attack on security forces in Cairo in more than six months. |
| A recently formed militant group called Hasm said it had carried out that attack. | A recently formed militant group called Hasm said it had carried out that attack. |
| Egypt's Coptic Christian minority has long complained of discrimination in the mostly Muslim nation. | Egypt's Coptic Christian minority has long complained of discrimination in the mostly Muslim nation. |
| Two people were killed outside St Mark's cathedral in 2013, when people mourning the death of four Coptic Christians killed in religious violence clashed with local residents. | Two people were killed outside St Mark's cathedral in 2013, when people mourning the death of four Coptic Christians killed in religious violence clashed with local residents. |
| In February this year, a court sentenced three Christian teenagers to five years in prison for insulting Islam. The teenagers had appeared in a video, apparently mocking Muslim prayers, but claimed they had been mocking the Islamic State (IS) group following a number of beheadings. | In February this year, a court sentenced three Christian teenagers to five years in prison for insulting Islam. The teenagers had appeared in a video, apparently mocking Muslim prayers, but claimed they had been mocking the Islamic State (IS) group following a number of beheadings. |
| Egypt has pursued a number of blasphemy cases since the country's 2011 uprising. Many of those cases have been against Copts. | Egypt has pursued a number of blasphemy cases since the country's 2011 uprising. Many of those cases have been against Copts. |
| Most of the Islamist militant attacks of recent years have been focused in the Sinai province, where an IS-linked jihadist group is active, but Cairo has also suffered a string of attacks in the past two years. | Most of the Islamist militant attacks of recent years have been focused in the Sinai province, where an IS-linked jihadist group is active, but Cairo has also suffered a string of attacks in the past two years. |